Haylee Self

September 22, 2015

Education 1301
W. Smith

Health Coordinator to Teacher

When I thought about the perfect teacher to interview for the assignment I
immediately thought of my high school sciences teacher, Tandee Hughes. She is easily
the biggest influence I have had to become a teacher.
Over Mrs. Hughes nine years as an educator she has taught at two schools. She
started out at Wolfe City High School where she spent eight years teaching classes
from freshman biology to anatomy and physiology. She even taught a few extra classes
such as health and health sciences that prepared students for the health care field.
Three of the eight years at Wolfe City High School, Mrs. Hughes also coached athletics
and various sports. This year Mrs. Hughes started her second year as the 5 through 8
School Counselor at Pottsboro Middle School.
Becoming and educator and even a counselor was not Mrs. Hughes first choice
after graduating with a degree in Health Coordinator from Texas Tech University.
Teaching she said kind of fell into her hands. While attending Texas Tech Mrs. Hughes
did an internship with Texas Tech Athletics. During her internship she worked mostly
with the volleyball and soccer teams doing strength and conditioning. She thought that it
might have been her calling, so after graduation that is what she set out to do. Mrs.
Hughes knew that it would be hard seeing as she was a woman in the field, but she did
not let that stop her. She kept her determination and kept moving. She received a job as
Advertising Coordinator and Head Coordinator at a baseball facility called Frozen
Ropes in Mckinney. The facility worked mainly with players during their off seasons such

Haylee Self
September 22, 2015

Education 1301
W. Smith

as Emmit Smith and Michael Irving. After an injury kept her from working as much, Mrs.
Hughes decided to substitute teach on the side. Immediately after applying Wolfe City
High Schools principal at the time called her for an interview for the biology position.
The previous teacher had made it through in-service and one day of school before
leaving.
Even though teaching was not Mrs. Hughes first choice for her career path, she
finds joy and satisfaction in her job knowing that she will make a difference in each
students life. Mrs. Hughes said that as a teacher the primary reward is being able to
see the results of her hard work. I get to see them graduate, make that A on that paper,
or get that letter of acceptance into the college of their choice.
With good comes bad, and as a teacher you may face many frustrations on a
daily basis. The hardest part of the job for Mrs. Hughes is feeling helpless. She sees
countless students who have a parent missing, a parent in jail, or the student being
raised by a grandparent. I know that while these students need my love and attention, I
cant watch over them when they arent at school.
The advice that Mrs. Hughes would like to give future educators, is that your
principal can be your biggest ally or your biggest enemy. You need to be able to work
with all of your colleagues to reach your common goal of teaching the students the best
you can. Also to be a consistent, fair, and dependable teacher worthy of the respect you
should have from the students in your classroom. You must earn the respect of your
students from day one.
Mrs. Hughes has had a lasting impact on all of her students in the years she has
spent as an educator. She helps her students far beyond the classroom walls and work.